Honey BBQ Chicken Wings (Printable)

Crispy wings tossed in a luscious honey barbecue glaze for a sweet and smoky flavor.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs chicken wings, split at joints, tips removed
02 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
03 - 1 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

→ Honey BBQ Sauce

07 - 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
08 - 1/4 cup honey
09 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter (optional)
10 - 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
11 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F or heat oil in a deep fryer to 350°F if frying. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top for baking.
02 - Pat chicken wings dry. In a large bowl, toss wings with vegetable oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until evenly coated.
03 - Place wings in a single layer on the prepared rack or baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway, until wings are crispy and golden. If frying, cook in batches for 8 to 10 minutes until deep golden and fully cooked; drain on paper towels.
05 - Combine barbecue sauce, honey, butter (if using), apple cider vinegar, and cayenne pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until butter melts and sauce is smooth, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
06 - Transfer cooked wings to a large bowl. Pour warm honey BBQ sauce over wings and toss thoroughly to coat.
07 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with chopped parsley or green onions.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce strikes that perfect balance between sweet and smoky that makes everyone reach for seconds
  • Baking means less mess than frying but still delivers that craveable crispy skin
  • Ready in under an hour but tastes like something you'd order at your favorite wing spot
02 -
  • Rushing the drying step is the number one mistake people make with wings so take your time patting them thoroughly
  • Letting the wings rest for just 5 minutes after baking helps them retain their crispy texture when you toss them in sauce
03 -
  • Baking powder mixed into the seasoning blend creates an even crispier skin by altering the pH level
  • Let the wings rest for a few minutes after tossing in sauce to help the coating set and prevent messy fingers
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